Improvement in striking-clocks



D. W. BRADLEY. Striking-Glock.

No. 221,210. Patented Nov.4, 1879.

-\^/|INEssEs: wf. ...11.5

N.PETRS, FHOTULITHOGRAPHER, wASHiNG TTTTT C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

DUDLEY WT. BRADLEY, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SETII THOMAS CLOCK COMPANY, OF NEIY YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STRIKING-CLOGKS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 221,210, dated November l, 1879,: application filed March 22, 1879.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, DUDLEY W. BRADLEY, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Striking- Clocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My improved clock strikes the proper number of blows at the proper time to correspond with the long-established nautical bells; and it strikes the blows with the same intervals of time as is'customary in striking the bells 011 ship-board-that is to say. when two bells or more are struck they are in pairs closely associated. In striking eight bells there are Iirst two bells close together, then two more and a long interval, and so on, till four double strokes have been given. This is important, not only to conform with the habits and prejudices of an important class of the eonnnunity, but to aid men in listening under un- 'favorable conditions, in storms and otherwise, in counting the num ber of bells that are struck.

I have carried out the invention by means of two hamnzes operated by the same striking-wheel, but so proportioned that one is liberated and strikes a little in advance ofthe other. Both strike on the same bell.

The aceompanyin g drawings Aform, a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying' out the invention.

Figure 1 is, a face view of the portion of the works which involves the invention. Fig. 2 is an edge View. Fig. Sis a diagram illustrating the way in which the long and short pins are arranged around the wheel. This diagram shows the arrangement extended in a right line.

The remaining figures are on a larger scale.

Fig. 4t is a section of a portion showing the relation of the short and long pins to the two levers operating with two hammers. The strong lines represent a short pin, which strikes only one lever, M2. The dotted outline shows the increased length of the long pins, which are adapted to strike and operate both levers, M2 and N2.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the count-wheel detaehed. detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A is the frame of the clock. B is the shaft of the minute-hand, and B is a cam fixed thereon, which takes the place of the ordinary cam to liberate the strikingmechanism at the proper intervals. Instead of being a single cam, so as to strike once in an hour, my cam B is a double cam, and induces a striking action every half-hour.

C is the lever, which is actuated by the cam B. It turns on the center c, and performs its ordinary functions.

D is an arm from the sha-ft D, which, as also the arms D2 D3, perform their usual functions relatively to the count-wheel, and also Fig. 6 represents the stroke-wheel to the catch-wheel, by means of which theA striking is arrested when the proper number of blows has been struck, and the count-wheel allows the shaft D to assume the proper position therefor.

E is the countwheel, mounted on the winding-shaft E. It is adapted to serve in its or dinary relation to all the other parts, but ditferently graduated from the ordinary count wheel.

H is the piu-wheel, which acts directly on the hammers. It is mounted on a sleeve, II, which is fitted loosely on the shaft E, and is worked by the gear-wheel G2 on the shaft Gr, so as to turn with a somewhat quicker motion than the count-wheel. This is of advantage 'in utilizing the effect of the spring; but the work might be done by fixing the pins on the face of the count-wheel in the ordinary manner, provided the pins were of proper length an d properly arranged, as will now be described.

Some of the pins are shorter than the others. The action of the short pins, H2, is to induce a blow by only one hammer. The long pins, H3, act on both the hammers. The action ot' one of the long pins is to induce a blow by both hammers. This is due to the arrangement of the parts.

M N are the hammers. They are mounted on separate parallel shafts M N. Each shaft others.

has an arm marked, respectively, M2 N 2, which terminate a little within the circle formed by the pins of the pin-wheel II; but the arm M2 is shorter than the arm N2. Vhen a short piu, H2, sweeps past, it engages only with the arm M2, and induces a blow with the hammer M only. Then a long pin, H3, sweeps past, it engages with both the arms M2 N2, and causes both hammers to strike; but by reason of the increased length of the arm N2 and the arrangement ot' the shafts, the releasing and the striking ot' the hammer N is a little delayed. In short, a short pin, II?, strikes one bell. A long pin, IIS, strikes two bells. It

follows that to strike one bell only a short pin, H2, should act. To strike two bells only a long pin, IIS, should act. 'Io strike three bells a long pin is required followed by a short pin. To strike four bells two long pins are required.

It will now be seen not only how the double blows on the bell are struck in quicker succession than a single hammer could be twice raised and dropped, but also why it is that the count-wheel is so unusually divided, having two spaces of equal length for one bell and two bells, then spaces otl equal length for three bells and four bells, and the same for tive bells, six bells, and for seven bells and eight bells. A

rIhe pins are equally spaced. rIhe passage of a short pin, HZ, past the hammer is required tor one bell, and the passage of only one pin, a long pin, requiring the same space on the wheel, is required 'tor two bells. So ot allthe 'Ihe passage ot' three long pins and one short pin strikes seven bells, and an exactly equal traverse ot' the count-wheel to induce the. passage ot an exactly equal space in the pin-wheel 'tor long pins is required vfor eight bells.

It will be understood thatall the other parts of the machinery not here represented or particularly referred to may be ot' any ordinary or suitable character.

I'Ioditications may be made in the details within wide limits without defeating the object of the invention.

I believe it practicable to use thesev novel parts in addition to other ordinary striking mechanism. In such case the strokes for lthe nautical bells should be made on a different bell from that for the ordinary striking, and the bells should be oi" so ditterent a tone as to be readily distinguished.

Certain parts otl the invention may be used without the others; but I'pret'er the whole used together, as shown.

Some of the advantages due to certain features of the invention may be separately enumerated as follows First, by reason of the two hammers, I am able to produce two blows in more rapid succession than would be possiblc were the saine hammer to be litted and dropped t'or each blow second, by reason ot' the two hammers operated by the long and short pins, I am able to act with one hammer alone, or with both, as required, and to strike both the odd and even numbers ot' bells with simple mechanism; third, by reason otl the separate piu-wheel II, running faster than the count-wheel, but controlled thereby, I am able to obtain a quicker lnotion and more ellicient action ot' the pins than whe'nthepinsturn only with the motion ot' the count-wheel g fourth, by reason ot' the :t'aet that I strike the required number in pairs, the two strokes et' each pair following quickly, my clock conforms to the custom of the sea, auditsindications areeasier to be counted and understood under all the exigencies ot' sea-service.

I claim as my inventionn l. A marine clock having two hammers adapted to strike in quick succession, so as to strike two blows near together with greater intervals between them and thc next, as here in specitied.

2. In marine clocks, the two hammers M N', in combination with the short and long pins II2 and H3, and with the count-wheel having two measures ot' equal length t'or the several graduations otA` the number ot blows, as herein specified.

3. In marine clocks, the eountuvheel Ef, graduated in sets ot' intervals, two alike in each set, in combination with provisions for striking with one hammer and with two, as required, by the same mechanism, all substan tially as herein specitietl.

4. In marine clocks, the two wheels E' and II, with their connected gearing, adapted to induce a greater' motion ot' the pins with a moderate traverse ot' the count-wheel, as herein specified.

In testimony whereol:l I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ot' March, 187), in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

I) UDLEY \V. I3 tADLlGY.

Vituesses:

CniinLns G. S'rn'rsoN, PHILLirs Anno'rtr. 

